Snow removal apparatuses systems and methods

ABSTRACT

One exemplary embodiment is apparatus including a snow removal bucket for a bucket vehicle, the bucket including a top rim portion, a bottom rim portion, a guard extending past the bottom rim portion, and a bucket exterior, wherein the top rim portion overhangs the bottom rim portion whenever the guard substantially contacts a surface beneath the bucket. In one form of the apparatus, the bucket is attached to a bucket vehicle. In another form of the apparatus, the guard is bolted to a flange extending past the bottom rim portion, and the apparatus further includes a fixture attached to the bucket exterior adapted for coupling the bucket to a portion of a bucket vehicle. In a further form of the apparatus an edge of the guard is substantially parallel to and essentially coextensive with the bottom rim portion. Another form of the apparatus includes a second guard which extends from the top rim portion. In a further form of the apparatus, the top rim portion is located on a lip, the second guard is positioned within a recess formed in the lip, and the bottom rim portion overhangs the top rim portion whenever the guard is not in contact with the surface and the second guard contacts the surface. A variety of other forms and embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods are also contemplated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to snow removal apparatuses systems andmethods including, for example, snow removal buckets and systems andmethods of using snow removal buckets.

BACKGROUND

Snow removal is a frequent, expensive, and time consuming necessity,particularly in colder climates, but also in temperate, moderate andwarmer climates. Snow removal is generally labor, time, and energyintensive and comes with significant costs such as labor, equipment,fuel, maintenance, repair, and replacement costs. Costs also arise dueto damage to areas from which snow is removed, the covering of sidewalksand parked cars with snow (which can create inconvenient and dangeroussituations), and the inability to clear snow to a desired location, toname a few additional examples. Various snow removal apparatuses,systems, and methods have been proposed; however, they suffer from anumber of drawbacks, disadvantages, shortcomings and failings including,for example, difficulty of equipment operation, and inadequate orinsufficient efficiency speed, power, equipment agility and/orperformance in any of the areas mentioned above and in other aspects.There is a need for advancements in snow removal apparatus, systems andmethods.

SUMMARY

One exemplary embodiment is apparatus including a snow removal bucketfor a bucket vehicle, the bucket including a top rim portion, a bottomrim portion, a guard extending past the bottom rim portion, and a bucketexterior, wherein the top rim portion overhangs the bottom rim portionwhenever the guard substantially contacts a surface beneath the bucket.In one form of an apparatus embodiment, the bucket is attached to abucket vehicle. In another form of an apparatus embodiment, the guard isbolted to a flange extending past the bottom rim portion, and theapparatus further includes a fixture attached to the bucket exterioradapted for coupling the bucket to a portion of a bucket vehicle. In afurther form of an apparatus embodiment, an edge of the guard issubstantially parallel to and essentially coextensive with the bottomrim portion. Another form of an apparatus embodiment includes a secondguard which extends from the top rim portion. In a further form of theapparatus, the top rim portion is located on a lip, the second guard ispositioned within a recess formed in the lip, and the bottom rim portionoverhangs the top rim portion whenever the guard is not in contact withthe surface and the second guard contacts the surface. A variety ofother forms and embodiments of apparatuses are also contemplated.

Another exemplary embodiment is a bucket for a bucket vehicle includinga bucket interior, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a bumper adjacent thebottom edge, wherein if at least two points on the bumper contact asection of essentially flat ground, the angle defined by a first rayextending from a point of the bottom edge in a direction essentiallynormal to the bottom edge and passing through a point of the top edgeand a second ray extending from the point of the bottom edge in adirection essentially normal to the bottom edge and essentially normalto the section of ground is an acute angle. One form of a bucketembodiment includes sides having side edges extending between the topedge and the bottom edge. Another form of a bucket embodiment includes amounting fixture adapted to couple the bucket and one or more arms of abucket vehicle. A further form of a bucket embodiment includes a topbumper adjacent the top edge. An additional form of a bucket embodimentfurther includes bolts fastening the top bumper and the bottom bumper tothe bucket. Another form of a bucket embodiment includes means forcoupling the top bumper and the bucket and means for coupling the bottombumper and the bucket. An additional embodiment includes the bucketbeing used to remove snow including the bucket being coupled to a bucketvehicle, the bucket being positioned such that the top edge overhangsthe bottom edge, and the bucket moved in essentially that position tocollect snow using the bucket interior. A variety of other forms andembodiments of buckets are also contemplated.

A further exemplary embodiment is a method of clearing snow from anarea, the method comprising coupling a bucket vehicle and a bucket, thebucket including a bucket interior, a first rim having a first guard,the first guard including a portion extending beyond the first rim, asecond rim having a second guard, the second guard including a portionextending beyond the second rim, and an opening to the bucket interiordefined at least in part by the first rim and the second rim;positioning the bucket so that the first guard contacts the area, andthe second guard does not contact the area, the second guard beingessentially between the first rim and the vehicle; and moving the bucketrelative to the area so that snow is moved at least in part by the firstguard. In one form of a method embodiment, the area is a residentialdriveway, a sidewalk, or a parking lot. In another form of a methodembodiment, the moving includes moving the bucket vehicle so that firstguard drags across at least a portion of the area. A further form of amethod embodiment includes scooping dragged snow using the bucket. In anadditional form of a method embodiment, the moving is effective to causesnow to move in a direction essentially toward the bucket interior. In afurther form of a method embodiment, the snow moves along an interiorsurface of the bucket. In another form of a method embodiment, damage tothe surface is reduced by the first guard and the second guard. Avariety of other forms and embodiments of methods are also contemplated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of one example of a snow removal bucket connectedto a bucket vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of one example of a snow removal bucket connectedto a bucket vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one example of a snow removal bucket connectedto a bucket vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a front view of one example of a snow removal bucket connectedto a bucket vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a side view of examples of surfaces from which snow can beremoved.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one example of a bucket vehicle and bucketremoving snow.

FIG. 7 is a side view of one example of a bucket vehicle and bucketremoving snow.

FIG. 8 is a side view of one example of a bucket vehicle and bucketremoving snow.

FIG. 9 is a side view of one example of a bucket vehicle and bucketremoving snow.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one example of a bucket for snowremoval including exemplary analytical geometrical annotations.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thesubject inventions, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of the inventions is thereby intended. Such alterations andfurther modifications in the illustrated device, and such furtherapplications of the principles of the inventions illustrated therein arecontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe inventions relate.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown an exemplary snow removal bucket100 for a bucket vehicle 50 only a portion of which is shown. Vehicle 50can be any of a variety of vehicles adapted for interconnection orcoupling with a bucket. Examples of bucket vehicles include bobcat-typevehicles, tractors, loaders, trucks, as well as other vehicles. Asillustrated, vehicle 50 includes wheels such as wheel 59 which allow formovement of vehicle 50. Other vehicles sold include treads, as well as avariety of numbers, sizes and types of wheels and/or treads tofacilitate vehicle movement.

Vehicle 50 includes arm 54 which is shown connected to fixture 52 ofbucket 100 by coupling member 52 a. In the illustrated example, couplingmember 51 a is a bolt accommodating rotational movement, but a widevariety of other coupling members are contemplated. Hydraulically drivenarm 56 is also attached to fixture 52 by coupling member 52 b which alsoaccommodates rotational movement. Hydraulically driven arm 56 includes apiston-like portion 58 which can advance in and out of a cylinder-likehousing 57 to adjust the length of arm 56. Movement of bucket 100, suchas raising, lowering, tilting, rotating, dumping, scooping, extension,contraction, dragging, scraping, and other movements, can beaccomplished by movement of arm 54 and arm 56 and/or vehicle 50 orcombinations thereof.

The illustrated interconnection of bucket 100 and arm 54 is one exampleof how a snow removal bucket and a bucket vehicle can be coupled.Additional examples include single arm couplings, dual arm couplings,triple arm-couplings, multi-arm couplings, hydraulically drivencouplings, electrically driven couplings, selectably engageablecouplings, dedicated couplings, couplings including bearings, jointedcouplings, as well as combinations and variations of the foregoingexamples. In the illustrated embodiment raising and lowering of bucket100 and/or rotation or tipping of bucket 100 can be accomplished.Additional embodiments contemplate a variety of other movementcapabilities.

Bucket 100 is one example of a snow removal bucket for a bucket vehicle.Bucket 100 includes exterior 116, side 110, and side edge 112. Bucket100 further includes top lip 134, and top guard 130 connected to bucket100 with connection means 132. Bucket 100 also includes bottom flange120 which extends from the bottom 114 of bucket 100. Bottom guard 124 isconnected to flange 120 with connection means 122. Connection means 122and 132 could be any of a variety of devices capable of connectingguards 130 and 124 to bucket 100, including, bolts, screws, pins,rivets, and others. As illustrated, bottom guard 120 contacts surface Swhich is a surface, such as a ground surface (which could be asphalt,concrete, gravel, blacktop, brick, dirt, grass, other substances, orcombinations thereof beneath bucket 100.

Let it be understood that the form, dimensions, configuration, andfeatures illustrated in FIG. 1 are exemplary and that a variety ofmodified and different embodiments are contemplated. For example, bucket100 might have only an upper guard, only a lower guard, might alsoinclude side guards, or could include a variety of other guards.Additionally, the guards could be connected to bucket 100 in a varietyof manners. For example, guards which extend around an edge or rim toserve as a cap could be used, guards which attach to an interior orexterior surface of a bucket and extend past the bucket could be used,guards which extend into one or more recesses formed in a bucket couldbe used, and combinations and variations of the foregoing and otherembodiments could be used. The guard(s) could be made of plastic,rubber, composite material, nylon, polyethylene, or a variety of othersubstances. The guard(s) could be flat, toothed, bristled, brushes, or avariety of other types.

Embodiments exhibiting variations in the form, dimensions,configuration, and features of the bucket are also contemplated. Forexample, the upper lip could be absent, and/or lower lip could beincluded, or the lower flange could be absent and/or an upper flangecould be included, or both. Additionally in the position shown in FIG. 1the upper edge could overhang the lower edge to a greater or lesserdegree. Furthermore, the body of the bucket could have different forms,such as a different interior or exterior contour or shape. The sidescould be flat or contoured, or could extend to greater, lesser ordifferent degrees. Additional examples of snow removal buckets includethose shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 6-10, as well as flat back buckets, angledback buckets, flat top buckets, angled back buckets, curved backbuckets, blended geometry buckets, variable geometry buckets, andcombinations and variations of the foregoing examples. It should beunderstood that the foregoing examples are only several of many possiblevariations and configurations.

With reference to FIG. 2 there is shown a bucket 200 having similarfeatures as bucket 100 which are indicated with reference numerals thathave been increased by 100 (e.g. bucket 100 of FIG. 1 increased by 100becomes bucket 200 of FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, bucket 200 has adifferent shape from bucket 100 in that its back has a more contouredshape with different curvature. This is one example of the great degreeof variation possible between and among different bucket embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 3 there is shown bucket 200 in a positiondifferent from that of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, bucket 200 has been rotatedforward so that guard 230 contacts surface S while guard 224 ispositioned above surface S. In the position shown in FIG. 3, bucket 200can be moved, for example, in the direction toward wheel 59, so as toclear snow (which includes snow, ice, sleet, hail, dirt, sand, gravel,debris, and combinations of these and other substances) from surface S.

With reference to FIG. 4 there is shown a front view of one example ofbucket 100. Features described above in connection with FIG. 1 areindicated with identical reference numerals. Additionally, operatorcompartment 70 of vehicle 50 is shown along with controls 71 and 72which an operator can use to control bucket 100 and/or vehicle 50.

With reference to FIG. 5 there are shown a variety of exemplary surfacesS1-S9 covered in snow 500. As is apparent from the examples of FIG. 5the surfaces and work areas from which snow can be cleared are variedand numerous. These surfaces can be flat, essentially flat, bumpy,uneven, grooved, graveled, paved, flat, sloping, sloped, angled,inclined, declined, bumped, dipped, concave, convex, hill-like, valleylike arched, apexed, and/or pointed, as well as combinations of andvariations on the foregoing examples. Exemplary embodiments disclosedherein have the ability to clear snow from a wide variety of surfacesincluding those mentioned above and those shown in FIG. 5 as well asothers.

With reference to FIG. 6 there is shown one example of a snow clearingprocess using bucket 100 and vehicle 50. As shown in FIG. 6, snow 63covers a surface 62 as well as the roof of a building 60. Let it beunderstood that the environment illustrated in FIG. 6 is but one exampleof an environment in which a snow removal process may be employed. InFIG. 6, bucket 100 has been positioned so that guard 130 and/or lip 134are in contact with snow 63 on surface 62. In this position, snow can becleared from surface 62. It is also contemplated that bucket 100 couldbe further lowered toward surface 62 such that guard 130 is closer to orcontacts surface 62.

With reference to FIG. 7 vehicle 50 and bucket 100 are shown at anotherpoint in the process of snow clearing. In FIG. 7 bucket 100 has beendragged across surface 62 effective to accumulate cleared snow 65. Thiscan be accomplished, for example, by movement of vehicle 50 and/orbucket 100.

With reference to FIG. 8, vehicle 50 and bucket 100 are shown at anotherpoint in the process of snow clearing. In FIG. 8, bucket 100 is shown inthe process of scooping snow 65 into bucket 100. In the illustratedexample, scooping is accomplished by moving bucket 100 forward into snow65. This movement can involve guard 120 moving along ground surface 62so that snow 65 passes into the interior of bucket 100. A variety ofother scooping motions are contemplated, such as those in which guard120 does not drag against surface 62, or touches surface 62 in adifferent manner or not at all.

With reference to FIG. 9 vehicle 50 is shown with bucket 100 having beenused to scoop snow 65 and raise above ground surface 62. From thisposition vehicle 50 can move to accommodate virtually any position orlocation where snow 65 is to be placed.

With reference to FIG. 10 there is shown an exemplary ray diagramshowing geometric properties of a bucket 1000 for a bucket vehicle. Asillustrated in FIG. 10 two rays extend from a point defined on thebottom edge of bucket 1000. The upper ray is extends form the point in adirection essentially normal to the bottom edge of the bucket and passesthrough a point of the top edge of the bucket as denoted by right angleR2. The lower Ray extending from the point of the bottom edge in adirection essentially normal to the bottom edge and essentially normalto the section of ground as denoted by right angle R2. The angel Abetween the two rays is an acute angle. The exemplary ray diagram is oneexample of an acute ray angle, it being understood that a variety ofexemplary buckets could have essentially any angle less than about 90degrees defined by similarly positioned rays.

While exemplary embodiments have been illustrated and described indetail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same areillustrative and not restrictive or limiting in character, it beingunderstood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and describedand that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit ofthe inventions herein are desired to be protected. It should beunderstood that while the use of words such as exemplary or example inthe description above may indicate that the feature so described may bemore desirable, or preferred, they nonetheless may not be necessary andembodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope ofthe inventions, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. Inreading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,”“at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intentionto limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to thecontrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “aportion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire itemunless specifically stated to the contrary.

1. An apparatus comprising a snow removal bucket for a bucket vehicle,the bucket including a top rim portion, a bottom rim portion, a guardextending past the bottom rim portion, and a bucket exterior, whereinthe top rim portion overhangs the bottom rim portion whenever the guardsubstantially contacts a surface beneath the bucket.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the bucket is attached to a bucket vehicle.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the guard is bolted to a flange extendingpast the bottom rim portion, and further comprising a fixture adaptedfor coupling the bucket to a portion of a bucket vehicle.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein an edge of the guard is substantiallyparallel to and essentially coextensive with the bottom rim portion. 5.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second guard which extendsfrom the top rim portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the toprim portion is located on a lip, the second guard is positioned within arecess formed in the lip, and the bottom rim portion overhangs the toprim portion whenever the guard is not in contact with the surface andthe second guard contacts the surface.
 7. A bucket for a bucket vehicleincluding a bucket interior, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a bumperadjacent the bottom edge, wherein if at least two points on the bumpercontact a section of essentially flat ground, the angle defined by afirst ray extending from a point of the bottom edge in a directionessentially normal to the bottom edge and passing through a point of thetop edge and a second ray extending from the point of the bottom edge ina direction essentially normal to the bottom edge and essentially normalto the section of ground is an acute angle.
 8. The bucket of claim 7further comprising sides having side edges extending between the topedge and the bottom edge.
 9. The bucket of claim 7 further including amounting fixture adapted to couple the bucket and one or more arms of abucket vehicle.
 10. The bucket of claim 7 wherein further comprising atop bumper adjacent the top edge.
 11. The bucket of claim 10 furthercomprising bolts fastening the top bumper and the bottom bumper to thebucket.
 12. The bucket of claim 7 further comprising means for couplingthe top bumper and the bucket and means for coupling the bottom bumperand the bucket.
 13. The bucket of claim 7 being used to remove snowincluding the bucket being coupled to a bucket vehicle, the bucket beingpositioned such that the top edge overhangs the bottom edge, and thebucket moved in essentially that position to collect snow using thebucket interior.
 14. A method of clearing snow from an area, the methodcomprising: coupling a bucket vehicle and a bucket, the bucket includinga bucket interior, a first rim having a first guard, the first guardincluding a portion extending beyond the first rim, a second rim havinga second guard, the second guard including a portion extending beyondthe second rim, and an opening to the bucket interior defined at leastin part by the first rim and the second rim; positioning the bucket sothat the first guard contacts the area, and the second guard does notcontact the area, the second guard being essentially between the firstrim and the vehicle; and moving the bucket relative to the area so thatsnow is moved at least in part by the first guard.
 15. The method ofclaim 14 wherein the area is a residential driveway, a sidewalk, or aparking lot.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the moving includesmoving the bucket vehicle so that the first guard drags across at leasta portion of the area.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprisingscooping dragged snow using the bucket and wherein the area includesconcrete, asphalt, blacktop or a combination thereof.
 18. The method ofclaim 14 wherein the moving is effective to cause snow to move in adirection essentially toward the bucket interior.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 wherein the snow moves along an interior surface of the bucket.20. The method of claim 14 wherein damage to the surface is reduced bythe first guard and the second guard.